“All right,” Margaret agreed as she tore open the pale blue envelope out of which wafted to them a faint scent of violets.
Then she began to read:
Vine Haven Seminary:
Dearest Megsy: Christmas without you isn’t nearly as festive as it used to be. The girls all came to our room just as they did last year to plan our mid-winter party, and though it wasn’t very complimentary to me I heartily agreed with Belle Terry when she said that our room seemed like an empty cage, out of which the song bird had flown. When the girls had gone, Megsy, I just threw myself down on your bed (no one has slept in it since you left) and I started to cry my eyes out, when I happened to remember what old Mrs. Tompkins, down at the candy shop, said once, “The best way to get over the miseries is to try to make somebody happy.” So I sprang right up and tried to think what I could do to add a mite of merriness to Christmas for you and Virginia. I decided to send you a jolly surprise box. I worked at it until long after midnight, but please don’t tell Miss Pickle, for of course I put the light out at 9 o’clock and waited until I was sure that she was asleep before I lighted it again.
There isn’t a single gift in the box that has any value, but I am just sure that you two girls will enjoy opening the packages.
I’m so excited about something and what that something is I will tell in my letter to Virginia.
Oh, Megsy, darling room-mate, no words of mine can tell how I’m a yearning to see you. Merry Christmas and happy New Year from Babs.
“Oh, Virginia, quick, open your letter and read the exciting news that Babs has to tell. I know what I do hope it is,” Margaret exclaimed eagerly.
Virg had already opened her letter and so she began at once to read:
Dear Virginia: Please let me call you that. I am so glad that you sent me a kodak picture of you on horseback. I just adore it! I had it enlarged so that I could see you better, and now in a pretty frame it hangs in my room over my writing desk, and every time one of the girls come in she immediately asks, “Oh Babs, who is that stunning cowgirl?” And when I tell them who you are and that you have invited me to visit at your ranch home, they all just look green with envy. Of course I don’t know yet that I may accept, but I have written dad about it twice, and I held my breath when a return letter came from him, but, for some reason, he didn’t mention the subject. However, I can’t give up hope that he will let me go. Oh, you’ll have to excuse me a minute, Martha just came to my door and said I am wanted in the library.